Qualitymark wrote: » Accidents I've had:blown over by a sudden gust of wind while turning between tall buildings, faceplanted onto the sharp ridge that used to be at the top of car doors. Luckily wearing contacts not glasses, so not blinded by glass, just a nasty wound under the eye for some weeks. driver flung door of car wide open as I passed it - I was well out, but he managed to catch a pannier, which leaped off but was hooked to the frame by elastic, so I sprawled right across that busy curve approaching Ranelagh where buses sweep around; luckily no buses. "Oh, I'm awful sorry," he said. doored by passenger opening car in traffic; luckily i whipped my hand off the handlebars so didn't break my fingers, just carommed off the door and onto the road in front of a car whose driver jammed on the brakes in time. slammed in the face by a pillow swung by a kid playing "break the neck of the cyclist"; swerved right and left after it hit and cycled on. spat at by angry pedestrian as I whizzed down Dame Street one windy day; combination of the wind and my speed whipped his spittle back and it covered his own face. Will always remember the look of disgusted outrage on him. slipped sideways on a glistening manhole cover, don't know how many times until I learned to avoid them. near miss from cars as I swerved to avoid manhole covers. None caused by earphones; I don't wear them anyway but they wouldn't have made a difference to any of these.
Deedsie wrote: » Some people are getting a bit worked up here. I was only trying to start a discussion on 1 individual aspect of bike safety. Of course there are bigger issues, doesn't mean the little issues should be ignored. 40% of people who visited the thread responded yes or maybe so I think the thread is valid and should not be treated with derision. Feel free to not participate if you disagree with the topic but at least attempt to make a for or against argument. There are plenty of threads on cycling on footpaths, breaking lights, high viz, helmets etc
cython wrote: » IMHO it does to an extent, i.e. relative trivialities such as whether or not headphones should be illegal while cycling (and I don't believe they should be as long as car radios, etc. are not illegal) should be de-prioritised until such a time as the "bigger issues" have been improved upon sufficiently that they are no longer bigger issues - pretty simple really.
Deedsie wrote: » Pretty short sighted approach, all issues big or small should be open to discussion. A consensus can be found amongst the cycling community and a unified voice on the issue would receive a better response if the issue does ever raise it's head on a national scale. If a politician took issue with headphone wearing cyclists at least we know the position of most boards.ie cyclists is in favour of the status quo...
petethedrummer wrote: » http://irishcycle.com/2014/01/01/cyclists-deaths-on-irish-roads-at-joint-low-in-2013/
http://www.rsa.ie/RSA/Road-Safety/Our-Research/Deaths-injuries-on-Irish-roads/
Qualitymark wrote: » Four of these fatalities were male. Should we ban men from cycling?
Nino Brown wrote: » It should be illegal to cycle wearing headphones, wearing pants, wearing anything really
Deedsie wrote: » Should it be illegal to cycle while wearing headphones? On the spot fine? Just wondering other people's opinions on this? Maybe start a discussion. I think it's a bit careless and potentially very dangerous for a cyclist to be on the public road and not be focused totally on the job of cycling safely from A to B?
RainyDay wrote: » So you'd be happy with this approach then? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbxqYnZ9KnE
bigar wrote: » OP, just wondering: - are you a cyclist - what was the reason to open this discussion? There is no such thing as a "cycling community", just people who use a bicycle as a means of transport. Do you want to ask every cyclist to vote on this so if it ever is brought up in politically we can point to this thread and tell them what cyclists think about it?
Deedsie wrote: » Yes I am a cyclist, leisure and I commute to work every day in Dublin, I cycle a minimum of 100km per week commuting alone. Not to be as smart ass as this sounds, I opened this discussion so we could discuss it. I don't know how else to answer that question. I had an opinion which I think I am entitled to have, that cycling with earphones/headphones impairs ability to be 100% aware of what's happening around you. I wanted to get other members of the cycling communities* opinion it to see if any agreed with me. To me it is just an inconsiderate thing to do that could potentially 1000000/1 chance endanger another road user or yourself. *people who cycle, people who are or will be all impacted by any legislation that may be introduced to make cycling safer, people who want to discuss various issues affecting cycling, cycling enthusiasts etc etc etc
Deedsie wrote: » I had an opinion which I think I am entitled to have, that cycling with earphones/headphones impairs ability to be 100% aware of what's happening around you.
Deedsie wrote: » I had an opinion which I think I am entitled to have, that cycling with earphones/headphones impairs ability to be 100% aware of what's happening around you. I wanted to get other members of the cycling communities* opinion it to see if any agreed with me.
el tel wrote: » But you don't seem sure about what you think should be illegal. First it was just headphones, now you think it should be earphones too. Perfect example of creeping legislation...:pac:
Deedsie wrote: » Earphones/headphones in the context of wearing them while cycling are equally irresponsible in my opinion. I am just gonna stop replying now, most people seem happy with the current situation. Safe cycling folks.
Deedsie wrote: » To me it is just an inconsiderate thing to do that could potentially 1000000/1 chance endanger another road user or yourself
petethedrummer wrote: » Sure you wouldn't get out of bed in the morning if you followed that logic.
THE teenage girl who got trapped between a Luas and its platform has said she is lucky to be alive. Fifth-year student Maja Dabkowska (16) was rescued when commuters pushed the tram away so she could be freed. "Can't believe I'm alive, could've died today, it's a miracle I haven't lost my leg," she said on Facebook. "Got my thigh jammed between the platform and the Luas this morning. No words to describe how thankful I am to all the people that picked the Luas up in order to get me out." The schoolgirl was involved in a collision with the tram in Dublin's city centre early yesterday. The incident occurred on the 'Red Line' outside the Jervis Street shopping centre shortly before 9am. Commuters and passers-by rushed to the teenager's aid, and attempted to push the Luas away from the platform in a bid to free her. The girl was eventually freed and was rushed to hospital - her injuries are not life-threatening. The attached footage, filmed by Łukasz Piguła and published to Facebook, shows the moment that the girl became trapped beneath the tram. Maja, who is originally from Poland but living in Dublin's north inner city with her family, had been due to start her first day in fifth year at the Holy Family school in Rathcoole yesterday. The youngster was in a rush to get a bus and said she had her earphones in and didn't hear a second Luas coming as she made her way across the tracks until "it was right in front of me, and I panicked and tripped over, it was right in front of me and I scrambled onto the platform but my leg slipped and I didn't make it in time". She added: "My leg got hit by the Luas and got stuck in between the platform and the Luas up to the very top of my thigh. I slid with the Luas for a meter or two, and then I couldn't move. Headphones/earphones do affect your awareness of what is going on around you.
Headphones/earphones do affect your awareness of what is going on around you.
adrian522 wrote: » Brilliant, this is scientific proof if ever I've seen it. Ban earphones all together. Let's ban music while we are at it.
Deedsie wrote: » I know I said I would stop replying but then I read this and I thought it would fit in "hear"...http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/luas-crush-girl-i-thought-i-was-going-to-die-30541068.html ....
cormacjones wrote: » You want to ban music? Are you in the Taliban? I missed the part where the poster said it was scientific proof. I think you'd have to be pretty dim to believe that headphones don't impact you're awareness in some way. No need for the snarky reply.
